🤩 Happy almost weekend! Maybe you have Friday off, and in that case, let's go!

Today's newsletter is words — a 3-minute read.

A new bar and restaurant in Chicago's River North taps into the global popularity of Formula 1 racing by putting fans behind the wheel and onto the track.

Driving the news: F1 Arcade opens tomorrow in the former Rock Bottom Brewery spot at State and Grand.

What to expect: An upscale arcade serving spicy ahi tuna tartare and wagyu beef sliders, cocktails, including a couple created by Bar Kumiko's Julia Momosé, mocktails and, of course, the chance to drive F1 race car simulators.

How it works: Simulators allow drivers to select skill levels from "rookie" to "elite" and compete on some of the most famous racetracks in the world.

• The simulators pump the sounds of engines roaring, tires screeching and fans cheering into the driver's ears while the seats rattle and shake around tough turns and crashes.

If you go: F1 Arcade opens Friday at 1 W. Grand Ave.

• Standard racing experiences start at $19.

💭 Carrie's thought bubble: One of my favorite childhood memories was playing "Pole Position" with my siblings at the Best Western in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on our way to see our grandparents in Florida. This brought up that childlike exhilaration and made me super giggly.

Send to a F1 fan

Hope you didn’t plan a nice, quiet weekend. It's Air & Water Show time again. Best of luck to you and your pups.

The big picture: Here's what the Axios Chicago crew has on our radars.

Justin's picks:

🇮🇹 I've got some Italian in me (don't we all) and there's no better way to celebrate than the Taylor Street Little Italy Festival. If you missed out on eating fried ravioli while listening to a live cover band on a closed street this summer, this may be your last chance. | Friday, 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, noon | Free | Details

🏈 The Bears are back and will play their only home preseason game at Soldier Field. I need to get my practice reps in for cheering for the regular season. | Soldier Field | Saturday, noon | Details

🥘 Comedian and writer Mark Bazer is reinventing his acclaimed "Interview Show." Instead of just sitting down with guests, he’s turning the show into a full-fledged dinner party. Chef John Manion and others will serve the audience while Mark interviews him, with live music from Gia Margaret. | Fitzgerald's in Berwyn | Aug. 20, 7pm | $85 | Details

Monica's picks:

🎸 I'm looking forward to delicious food and Latino indie rock bands at The National Museum of Mexican Art's Sonido Fest. Look for me eating empanadas from Cafe Tola while vibing to California's Surely Tempo and Mexican-Salvadorian-American singer-songwriter Niko Rubio. | Harrison Park | Saturday, 2pm | Free | Details

🍷 Chicago may not exactly be wine country, but we become sangria country one weekend a year when Humboldt Park fills up with fruit-infused wine, music and artisan crafts for Sangria Fest. | Saturday and Sunday, noon to 9pm | $10-$50

🎤 Who needs to pay top dollar for the real thing when you can catch four tribute bands at this weekend's Naper Nights jumping to the music of Van Halen, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith and assorted classic rock gods.| Naper Settlement in Naperville | Friday-Saturday, 6-10pm | $25, free for kids | Details

Carrie's picks:

📚 I love traveling through old Chicago at the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, a vast archive of African American history. Check out Court Theatre's tour of the "Praise and Protest: Voices of the Chicago Black Renaissance" exhibit. | Woodson Regional Library | Saturday, 11am | Free | Details

🍷 It's almost one of my favorite seasons — red wine season! Prepare at Mon Ami Gabi's Wine Passport Series: Bordeaux to Burgundy, with passed bites and charcuterie. | Mon Ami Gabi in Lincoln Park | Saturday, 12-2pm | $80 | Details

🛍️ I love an outdoor mall. It feels so California! Old Orchard is a good one and browsing vintage and artisan shops sounds like a great way to spend a summer evening. | Old Orchard | Saturday, 10am-7pm | Free | Details

Here are new streaming releases worth having on your radar this weekend.

"Lanterns" — Season 1 available Sunday on HBO Max

• Veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) investigate a murder in rural Nebraska in this Earthbound, detective-story take on the superheroes.

"A Child of My Own" — Documentary available now on Netflix

• Oscar-nominated director Maite Alberdi mixes dramatization and testimony to tell the story of Alejandra, who fakes a pregnancy after enduring miscarriages and mounting pressure to become a mother.
• Catch up quick: The case unfolded in Mexico in 2009 and became a national media scandal.

"Camp Rock 3" — Musical movie available Friday on Disney+

• When Connect 3 (played by returning cast members the Jonas Brothers) loses the opening act for its reunion tour, the band holds a contest to find a new performer among a fresh group of ambitious campers.

Go deeper: See last week's picks.

Thanks for reading! Share this email with friends and tell them to subscribe.

And tell us about events that we should highlight. Spread the love!